Arizona Geological Survey: New landslide inventory project about to begin

As a result of the continuing landslides and their detrimental effects on property and infrastructure, the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) is about to begin a new landslide inventory project. The new project is going to help residents, state and federal authorities to efficiently prepare and deal with the consequences of future landslides. 

Over a time frame of 10 years, Arizona was severely hit by landslides, damaging its road network and many buildings, with the most recent being a slide event along the Echo Cliffs south of Page, causing the closure of a 23-mile section of the road connecting Bitter Springs and Page. Repair works took 2 year to complete and cost around $25million. 

In response to the landslide induced damage to property and infrastructure, the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) is about to start a two-year project with the purpose to create an inventory of landslides across the state. The project aims in inventorying historic and pre-historic landslides and creating a database to be used by emergency planners in the state. Scientists will initially focus on the most densely populated areas and major transportation routes, which are the locations presenting the highest risk, however landslide hazards are continuously increasing as land development activities expand towards mountainous locations and wildfires in combination with monsoon rains are mobilizing debris-flows. Dr Ann Youberg an AZGS research geologist specifically stated with regards to the importance of the project: "Our current understanding of the nature and extent of landslide activity in Arizona is rudimentary, and thus it is very difficult to assess the hazards associated with landslides."

The final deliverable of the specific project will be an online interactive Landslide Inventory Database of known and newly identified landslides which will help in the development of hazard and risk map assessments to be used in the effective protection of property and infrastructure.